“I’m sorry you went through that,” I told him.
“Sorry for me?” Thaddeus balked. “After everything you’ve been through— finding Forevermore and Ava almostdying— my problems look like a walk in the park.”
“Just because I had it worse doesn’t render your problems obsolete,” I said.
Thaddeus scoffed. “It does in this prison. Seems like everyone’s competing on who’s got it worse. And, well… I don’t want to enter the Darke Games, so I keep quiet. No one pays me any attention.”
“Consider it a blessing,” I said. “There are people in this prison whose attention is thelastthing you want.”
“Like the Warden?” Thaddeus whispered.
I nodded. “Like the Warden.”
Thaddeus shifted in his seat and lowered his voice even further. “You’re going up against him, aren’t you?”
“I’m going to try.”
“Let me help,” he offered. “Like I said, no one notices me. I can be an asset— a spy.”
I shook my head firmly. “No. You could get hurt.”
“So?” he challenged. “I may notseemtough, but I’ve been in this prison long enough to learn a thing or two.”
“You’re going to have to know a lot more than that to stand a chance against the Warden.” I couldn’t be responsible for this kid if he got hurt.
“All right, maybe I know more than a couple of things. You wouldn’t want me snooping around on my own, would you?”
“Ugh, fine,” I caved. He wasn’t going to back down, and at least if we were working together, I could keep an eye on him. “I’ll let you know as soon as I have a job for you.”
“That’s not good enough,” Thaddeus argued. “I want a job now. Otherwise, you’ll just blow me off and stall.”
I groaned. “Fine. What are your skills?”
“I blend in very well,” Thaddeus said. “I can follow people and eavesdrop. They wouldn’t suspect a thing.”
I hesitated. The last thing I wanted was to get this kid involved, but it sounded like he was going to go after the Warden one way or another. He’d get himself killed unless I kept him distracted.
“Keep an eye on our angel professors,” I instructed. “They know something, and I’m not sure what. Report back to me what you hear, okay?”
“Yes, sir,” Thaddeus said, sounding happy to be on board.
I was sure the angel professors knewsomething, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the Warden was keeping them in the dark. At least if I gave Thaddeus something to focus on, he’d stay away from the Warden.
“Thank you, Charlie,” Thaddeus raved. “You won’t regret it.”
I heard the click of heels, then Professor Ziva sneered, “Stick to the script!”
Thaddeus’ Familiar bristled his feathers, and Thaddeus laughed under his breath. His Familiar must have a sense of humor. We didn’t get a chance to talk any more after that. We read off the script until the end of class.
I wheeled Ava out of the room, and my friends followed behind us. I heard a commotion down the hall, and someone ran into me as they passed.
“Watch it!” a deep voice growled. Sounded like a guard. Another brawl must’ve broken out up ahead.
Thaddeus walked at my side. “So, does this make me part of the Villain’s Club?”
“What’s he talking about?” Ava asked.
“That’s what you guys called yourselves during the Darke Games, isn’t it?” Thaddeus said.
